Sharon Osbourne calls for expulsion of pro-Palestine rappers Kneecap from US

Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap have responded to attacks on them over their support for Palestine, saying their statements are "not aggressive" when compared to Israel's attacks on Gaza.

It comes after music manager and reality TV star Sharon Osbourne called for their US visas to be revoked for "incorporating aggressive political statements" during their Coachella performance regarding Israel and US support for the country.

The band projected "ISRAEL IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE", and "It is being enabled by the US government, who arm and funds Israel despite their war crimes" as well as "F*** Israel / Free Palestine" during their set on stage.

Osbourne urged her followers on X to join her in "advocating for the revocation of Kneecap's work visa", adding that their "behaviour raises concerns about the appropriateness of their participation in such a festival and further shows they are booked to play in the USA", as US authorities continue their crackdown on pro-Palestine activism.

When asked about Osbourne's comments, Kneecap told BBC News NI that their "statements aren't aggressive, murdering 20,000 children is though".

Speaking to Rolling Stone, band member Mo Chara said that Osbourne's "rant has so many holes in it that it hardly warrants a reply, but she should listen to 'War Pigs' that was written by Black Sabbath".

Sharon Osbourne's husband Ozzy became famous as the frontman of Black Sabbath in the 1970s.

Chara said the band believes they "have an obligation to use our platform when we can to raise the issue of Palestine, and it was important for us to speak out at Coachella as the USA is the main funder and supplier of weapons to Israel as they commit genocide in Gaza".

"As I said from the stage, 'The U.S. government could stop the genocide tomorrow.' It's important that young Americans hear and know it," he said.

The band's manager, Daniel Lambert, who has also been vocal against Israel's war, told RTÉ: "Why aren't we talking about the opinion of Omer Bartov, an Israeli-American genocide expert, who concludes that Israel are committing genocide?"

"Why should we care what Sharon Osbourne thinks? I certainly don't," he added.

Lambert also went on to praise the band for highlighting Israel's war on the Gaza Strip, and their performance, commending their "bravery and conviction" to stand up for what is right.

"If somebody is hurt by the truth, that's something for them to be hurt by, but it's really important to speak truth," the manager said. "Thankfully the lads are not afraid to do that."

Lambert added that the band has received death threats over their performance, describing them as "too severe to get into".

Kneecap also shared that "amongst the hundreds of violent Zionist threats there's thousands" of messages of support and praise for their advocacy for Palestinians.

The band has always been vocal about Israel's war, having joined the boycott of the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival over the US army's "super sponsorship" of the event.

However, footage from one of Kneecap's performances in 2024 has now been referred to the counter-terrorism unit to determine whether the band violated any UK terrorism laws.

The video shows one of the band members appearing to shout "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" while wearing a garment that resembles Hezbollah's official flag during their November gig at London's Kentish Town Forum.

A spokesperson from London's Metropolitan Police told The New Arab: "We were made aware of the video on Tuesday, 22 April, and it has been referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required."

Both Hamas and Hezbollah are designated as terrorist organisations in the UK, and it is an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 to "invite support for a proscribed organisation".

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK's Conservative Party, has accused the band of "openly glorifying evil terror groups", demanding that the governing Labour Party "apologise for rolling over" in a legal case when Kneecap won over £14,000 in arts funding from the UK government that Badenoch tried to block.